In a city where Marathi identity is a major poll plank, the divide between Maharashtrian and non-Maharashtrian candidates throws up a sharp contrast: the NCP, the Shiv Sena and MNS have nominated only one non-Maharashtrian each, while the Congress and the BJP have chosen to field more non-Maharashtrians than Maharashtrians.

The MNS’s non-Maharashtrian candidate is Raes Lakharia from Andheri West. Its Dindoshi candidate, Shalini Thackeray, married to Raj Thackeray’s cousin, originally hails from UP but describes herself as a true Maharshtrian.

The Shiv Sena has fielded Shahid Baig, a Muslim, in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. Minister Nawab Mallik is contesting for the NCP from Anushakti Nagar.

The BJP’s Jaiprakash Thakur and Congress corporator Rajesh Singh Thakur face off in Kandivali East, a newly formed constituency with a number of localities with a large migrant and Gujarati population.

BJP’s advocate Dinanath Tiwari and Congress city chief Kripashankar Singh are fighting for Kalina, which again has a large number of Muslims and migrants.

Two MLAs, the BJP’s Raj Purohit and Congress candidate Annie Shekhar, will fight for Colaba, which has Marathi and Catholic pockets.

Mumbai BJP chief Gopal Shetty said: “Since we have an alliance with Sena and they have fielded mostly Marathi candidates, we have taken into consideration other communities as well. We have fielded three Marathi candidates and two women candidates. There are requirements that cannot be ignored; otherwise it becomes difficult to win elections.”

CANDIDATE COUNT (Maharashtrians/total)
MNS: 32/33
Shiv Sena: 22/23 BJP: 3/13
Congress: 11/29 NCP: 6/7
Packed with non-Maharashtrians:
BJP: Gopal Shetty from Borivali, Sardar Tara Singh from Mulund, Jaiprakash Thakur from Kandivali East, Yogesh Sagar from Charkop, R U Singh from Malad West, Anil Thakur from Chembur, Dinanath Tiwari from Kalina, Prakash Mehta from Ghatkopar West, Mangal prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill, Raj Purohit from Colaba

... contd.